Secretary Bruce Babbitt Reminds California About Wicked Water Problems

The Voluntary Settlement Agreement process is a mechanism that we need to see more of in California and other western states. Our continued effort in solving complex water issues based on individual needs and wants will usually result in dysfunction. That is not the end point that we seek. Inspired views are in great demand and those views many times come with lifetime experiences of our semi-retired and retired professionals.

In front of a near full house at the recent Anne J. Schneider Lecture at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, Secretary Bruce Babbitt shared his most intimate advice. The Secretary stated, “Talking, listening and understanding each other is what we want to keep doing. The process is important so don’t yield and never give up.”

Operation Unite® understands the needs to keep the conversation going and build public and stakeholder responsibility for our water resource projects. Public responsibility is built by respecting everyone, showcasing water related responsibilities that occur in our communities and listen and share, continuously.    In the end, trust is built with previously oppositional groups and projects are completed. The best news is; it doesn’t end there. Responsibility, respect and trust are foundational in solving other community related issues like the homeless problems, housing, healthcare and energy. Turn your water projects into water success stories. Operation Unite® will brighten your day.

Communities that Know Their Shared Values Solve Their Shared Problems

We recognize unreliability of our water supplies when floods overcome the water treatment plant or droughts don’t meet our expectation for meeting water demand. Adding to these stresses are the consequences of extreme weather damaging basic water infrastructure including old water distribution systems and their protective overlying roadway cover. Ultimately the rhythm of community life is impacted and the water using public becomes intolerant of the disrupted services that are more frequently showing up. How do you build a public that is tolerant and cooperative with coping under these changing conditions?

Well…..

We have heard the families that pray together, stay together. Did you also know that communities that know their shared values solve their shared problems. Operation Unite does and we can help your community.

Location, Location, Location Also Works When Picking a New Well Location

Do your client a favor. Use the best information when you pick a new groundwater well location.

• Improve your chances on picking a great water supply well.
• Improve the marketing potential for your property.
• Don’t miss out on a technically-based opinion regarding where you invest in a groundwater supply.

It will be the best $500 you have ever spent.
 

Call Hydrogeologist, Steve Baker, at:  530-263-1007

Roots of Our Actions

The Sacramento Bee recently posed the question: What is California's biggest environmental challenges? Here are some of the opinions reported by the Sacramento Bee on August 13, 2018:

Read more here: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/influencers/article216465815.html#storylink=cpy

Roger Salazar – President, Alza Strategies

“It has to be climate change. Climate change impacts everything - from wildfires to our water supply, our energy grid, our air quality, our coastline...everything. This is not a challenge the state can solve alone, but we must be (and are) doing our part.”

Timothy White – Chancellor, California State University

“Nearly everyone agrees that climate change is the biggest environmental challenge facing California and the world. Communities across California are experiencing firsthand the effects of devastating wildfires, persistent droughts, agricultural anomalies and public health crises because of our changing climate. The next question is ‘What are we going to do about it?’ CSU campuses are at the front lines of confronting this challenge through outstanding research and partnerships with business, communities and government. Most importantly – and what encourages me to believe that we will all step up to this challenge – is the incredible spirit of sustainability and innovation inherent in our students, employees and alumni.”

Aziza Hasan – Executive Director, New Ground Muslim-Jewish Partnership

“In my line of work, bringing differing groups together, I am accustomed to different perspectives holding their truth in the same space. Among the diverse group of Muslims and Jews I surveyed regarding this question, however, there was resounding agreement. Water. Rising ocean waters, arctic ice melting, water pollution, lack of water in our vegetation due to extra hot weather-- making it easier for fires to unleash great fury. I heard great concern among these Angelenos that climate change will further exacerbate our water supply challenge along with other environmental issues like air quality. We all have a role to play in water conservation and drought resilience preparation for the future.”

Angie Wei – Chief of Staff, California Labor Federation

“Climate change. How it affects our ecosystems, our plant and animal life, nature’s balance. Human and capital impact on the earth and our limited resources. How managing climate change will foster a sustainable economy that creates good jobs.”

Operation Unite® has contributed to this conversation with the following comment to the Sacramento Bee:

Concern over political will that effectively responds to Climate Change and all its changing conditions (water supply and quality, air quality, sea level rising etc.) seems to be the greatest obstacle. As Founder of Operation Unite®, I have recognized a strong desire by some groups and people to make substantial adjustments in resource use and their application (especially water) in order to match the anticipated extremes in life conditions that await their future.  However, more often than not, I have also seen stakeholders come from an entitlement view point as far as remaining whole within their own organizations. No one wants to take a loss. That is an expected view point of today. Unfortunately, this doesn’t work well when choosing effective responses to Climate Change. Limited water resources will necessitate reallocation of water in order  to meet critical needs across the California landscape.

Cap-and-Trade agreements also create problems because future water availability is not expected to be the same as the past 100 years; more variability, greater uncertainty and higher demand. Compounding these conditions are the consequences of historical California water management.  California unknowingly missed the mark by over committing  their surface and groundwater resources.

Today we know that California's future precipitation and seasonal temperatures will vary greatly from past generations. Crafting effective water management under these conditions while back peddling our over commitments will undoubtedly inflict harm to some water users.

My hope is for the people of California, including water stakeholders, to act on their core community values as they develop more effective infrastructure and strategies to manage their collective needs in years to come. Seeds of past generations have been planted. Now it is time for Operation Unite® to water our historic core community values and engage all California citizens in building responsibility for their specific water projects. 

Scaled Groundwater Management

Sustainable use of a resource as important and complex as groundwater is achieved only when the solution involves multiple scales of action. This is why Operation Unite® helps you incorporate scaled groundwater management into your communities. When you see a community push groundwater management forward, you know tomorrow’s water demands will always be met. Take a new look at how you manage groundwater.

Principled Compromises is Our Secret Weapon

Operation Unite® believes that “wicked” problems are ultimately solved because the stakeholders make principled compromises. Putting it another way, “You know that if you don’t make a decision on something, no action will be worse than what you would be giving up.”  Operation Unite® helps develop an environment that encourages principled compromises that are built from the community. Take a new look at how you manage water.

Relationships: A Central Valley Farmer and a CA Delta Advocacy Group

A most difficult situation is when a circumstance threatens your very home and employment. It doesn’t matter what level of society you live, consequences occur in people’s lives when diminished water supplies impact your communities. Operation Unite® shares with you today two very polarized groups that have something to lose. The interview with Joe Del Bosque of Del Bosque Farms was completed at a time in 2009 when federal environmental regulations at the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta gave priority to the endangered species present in the Delta ecosystem. Other beneficial uses got their share of water if there was any water left. Guess what, there wasn’t very much water left. This caused farmers, like Joe in the Central Valley (south of the Delta), to panic as water curtailments took place.

Concerns of communities living in the Delta felt the increase in Delta water diversions that began in the early 1970s had created a cumulative unhealthy impact as the years moved forward. Salmon and other pelagic fish were being harmed. The endangered species that got all the attention in 2009 was the Delta Smelt. Listen to these two very respected groups and individuals and recognize their balanced and sincere concerns.

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta: A Divider or Uniter?

Water Transfers from Northern California to the South

The thriving success of California’s abundant agricultural production and state wealth was achieved because people wanted to realize their dreams in the Mediterranean climate of a state that was committed to move water to where it was needed. The primary sources for much of this water comes from northern California, the Colorado River and local regional aquifers. Unfortunately, uncertainties run high for water availability in California. California has more variability in rainfall from one year to the next than anywhere else in the U.S. You can imagine the infrastructure needed to store and move so much water. In order to accomplish this, water distribution in California has built manmade infrastructures as well as utilize natural  flow paths that are provided by the hydrology active across its land.
 
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a very important component of California’s water distribution system and, at the same time, the largest inland estuary on the west shore of the North American continent. A Delta of such beauty and bounty is certainly a very uncommon use for such a sensitive waterway. Enormous volumes of water are pumped from the Delta and sent to southern destinations for agricultural and municipal uses.  The result of the increase in pumping and other society induced impacts have produced an unhealthy condition for the diverse aquatic life in the Delta.
 
A safer way to transfer water without the acute impacts to migrating pelagic fish was first proposed in the 1980s and then again in the 2000s. It was thought that diversion of Sacramento River water, before entering the Delta, would avoid unhealthy impacts to the aquatic life of the Delta. This could be accomplished through a large canal or tunnel. The problem with this strategy is the overall flow of water into the Delta would be significantly reduced. This can cause a variety of changes in the natural setting that impact a spectrum of water quality, temperature, nutrient and habitat conditions. Diminishing populations of aquatic life, like Salmon, even has its effects on the indigenous people living in California. I guess you can say it turns the estuary on its head.
 
Well, it also turns the California lifestyle on its head. California now has 40 million people that need certainty that their water demands will be met every day. In addition, California agriculture is truly a bread basket of food for California, for the U.S. and even many countries around the globe. No matter how you look at it, moving water through the Delta is controversial. How can you satisfy all of today and tomorrow’s water needs and wants while safeguarding a thriving Delta. Climate change and an increasing California population rule the roost when water strategies are considered.  New management approaches are needed.
 
Today, California's Governor, Jerry Brown, has been supporting the construction of two thirty five mile long underground tunnels that would divert water under the Delta. The proposed projects are named, Water Fix and Water Ecosystem. Both of these projects, when combined, are an attempt to correct ecological and safety issues while, at the same time, provide more certainty for water deliveries across the state. Well you guessed it, nobody can agree on the best project. The proposed project was recently reduced in size from two underground tunnels to one tunnel but conflicts and confrontations continue. Disputes occur because water has many responsibilities as it travels to the ocean and these activities overlap and precede other users that rely on a moving water supply. One of the most difficult tasks in California today is to navigate the many hurdles that are presented by  municipal, agricultural, industrial, recreational and environmental interests. Currently, agreements between groups, individuals and water stakeholders are limited and usually contained within groups of common interests.
 
When deciding on redistribution of unpredictable volumes of yearly water and melted snow, you can be sure water stakeholders hold a lot of anxiety. More water is great but less water or a degraded quality is a water user’s greatest fear. After all, water is life.

DIFFICULTIES

Viewpoints of many water stakeholders are focused on their gains first with none to minimal concern for other viewpoints, at least until their needs are met.

1. California produce, dairy and meat consumers don’t realize their vulnerability to losing an important source of food. Because of this disconnect, balanced views regarding water diversions for agriculture are not actively voiced and supported by the public.
2. Farmers are perceived as wasting water, across the board. This misconception may be true in isolated cases but many farms use best management practices.
3. A common perception by many people is: “Water that reaches the ocean is wasted water.” This view point is a misconception that doesn’t recognize the many processes that water participates in as it flows to our oceans. A wedge between Delta communities and other water users has resulted from this misconception.
4. High value, high water intensive crops, like almonds, are demonized. Measures of success are created by each water stakeholder according to the value that water has for their personal beneficial use.
5. A significant portion of Delta water quality issues are caused by non-point pollution. This is seldom brought into the conversation regarding water quality issues of the Delta. Furthermore, omission of other unrelated impacts are not adequately addressed.
6. California citizens are not committed to permanently reducing their water foot print. This was recently seen after the past five to six year drought in California and the post recovery period. We are good in making short-term changes but long-term changes are still problematic.
7. Opposing parties don’t trust each other and view each other as irresponsible. Interactions are emotional, frustrating, irritating and, in many cases, unfair and disrespectful. The hard questions are rarely addressed with sincerity and authentic concern.

Operation Unite® Can Help

Operation Unite® is a hands – on, results - oriented, capacity building initiative that engages Stakeholders and the Impacted Public in solving water problems thereby building Public responsibility for generated projects. Operation Unite® can help resolve this water dilemma.
 
It’s all about relationship.

“It requires reflection, intention, and actions.  It requires intellect, but it also requires insight.  And it requires heart and compassion and empathy, including empathy for each other in addition to our beloved Stakeholders and species.”

Felicia Marcus, Chair of the California State Water Resources Control  
Board, Dec. 8, 2016, Maven  Notebook

Operation Unite® has a relationship building program that connects diverse and scattered populations through common values and a common goal; reflection, intention and actions. This program strengthens respect and responsibility between communities. Trust is earned.

Operation Unite® has already put its teeth into this issue. Developing relationships with stakeholders began in 2009 and has evolved as events and public responses occurred. Interviews and round table discussions were performed and radio programs produced. Meetings were attended and feedback always offered. Operation Unite® has explored  many water relationships that are present in this California Water dilemma. Below are some relationships that Operation Unite® is developing:

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Farmworkers in the Central Valley
Joe Delbosque Farms
Community Food Bank, Fowler
Fresno County Farm Bureau
California Fish & Wildlife
Santa Clara Water District
Mayor of Mendota, California
Neil Jones Food Company, Fireball, California
California Latino Water Coalition
Nisei Farmers League
University of California, Irvine/NASA on GRACE
Sportfishing Protection Alliance
Restore the Delta
Farmers in the Delta
San Joaquin Farm Bureau
Chairman, Delta Stewardship Council
California Central Valley Flood Association
North Delta Water Agency
Haggin Museum in Stockton
Corp of Engineers
California Delta Chamber of Commerce
University of the Pacific, Economics
Oceanographer, Moss Landing, California
Winnemem Wintu People
Metropolitan Water District
Pat Mulroy, Southern Nevada Water Authority and Las Vegas Water District
Felicia Marcus, California Water Resources Control Board
Civil Engineer in the Delta
San Joaquin Exchange Contractors
San Luis Delta Mendota Water Authority
Westland Water District
Fresno Board of Supervisor
Riverside Farm Bureau
Stanislaus County
Los Gatos Tomatoes Producers
Public Policy Institute of California
California Department of Water Resources
U.S. Geological Survey
NOAA/NWS

Proof is in the pudding. The Operation Unite® Relationship Building program has already jump started with ten years of engagement. Imagine what can now be accomplished.

Payrump, Nevada: A Reality Check When Developing Groundwater Management

TODAY'S EXPERIENCE (it's happening right now)
The Nye County Board of Commissioners and the Nevada Division of Water Resources are on a very important mission. These organizations are developing recommendations for creating a groundwater management plan for Pahrump Basin 162. There is a good reason for this. The basin is over-appropriated.

Basin 162 is committed to its groundwater and spring resources. Pahrump’s current population of 36,441 is expected to peak around 73,000 people by 2060. If the general plan is completely built out and 2 acre-feet of water is allowed for each property owner, water demand for Basin 162 will not be met for everyone. The perennial yield of this basin is only 20,000 acre-feet annually. The current population pumps an estimated 13,000 acre-feet annually (consumptive use).  Future water demand is likely to be 23,000 acre-feet to 30,000 acre-feet annually depending on assumed agricultural and domestic uses, return flows and water conservation practices.  Committed water rights, including future domestic wells may be even higher; at 63,439 acre-feet annually. There will be many financial and water related casualties under the current expansion of Pahrump and Basin 162 if water uses continue on its present course.

DIFFICULTIES

1. If the current allowable water right of 2 acre-feet per year is reduced to 0.5 acre-feet per year, the water balance will be much easier to maintain. The public, however, views this as a water grab and has filled public meetings on this discussion. Polarization of the issue has developed. The legislative process has also not worked very well to date.
2. Domestic groundwater user water rights are considered junior therefore subject to being “called” as groundwater aquifer levels decline.
3. Public has a perception that water has no limitations. Citizens feel their water is being taken away, that the government will get in their way, that any effort to correct this problem will raise taxes and water meters will be placed on wells to control everyone’s water use.
4. Connecting domestic properties is too expensive for the Water Districts and Domestic users.
5. Groundwater availability is unevenly present in Basin 162 due to the geology and areas of water demand. Due to these mismatched conditions, people interpret decisions as unfair.
6. There is much uncertainty in the recharge estimates of the basin, including irrigation and actual pumping by domestic wells. Data from springs and shallower aquifer systems are known but a technical understanding of the underlying limestone aquifer is severely limited.  This uncertainty weighs heavy because deep groundwater recharge from the limestone aquifer is assumed in today’s perennial yield calculations.
7. The groundwater monitoring network is very much undersized compared to the number of wells in Basin 162.

OPERATION UNITE® CAN HELP
Operation Unite® is a hands – on, results - oriented, capacity building initiative that engages Stakeholders and the Impacted Public in solving water problems thereby building Public responsibility for generated projects. Operation Unite® can help resolve this water dilemma.
 
This is a correctable situation. People want to buy property in Pahrump, pay a reasonable amount of property taxes. However, at the end of the day, they want to be left alone.
 
Operation Unite® conducts its own technical review of hydrogeologic information that has been shared with the public. Operation Unite® will identify miscommunications and misconceptions of both stakeholders and the public. These misunderstandings will be corrected within both the public and other stakeholders.
 
Operation Unite® will work with the public through the Operation Unite® Relationship Building program.
 
Operation Unite® will aid Pahrump citizens and stakeholders to discover their common community values and a common goal. Most communities aren’t aware of their common values. Operation Unite® will facilitate the discovery of these values and enforce their application at meetings and communications during the resolve of this water issue. A decision process that is consistent with common community values will generate ownership and agreement in the community.
 
Operation Unite® will develop a reality check for the Pahrump population to recognize their personal vulnerability under the current conditions and an effective way to respond.  People currently don’t feel vulnerable. Developing a reality check will be accomplished through the Public Relationship Building program that Operation Unite® has created.
 
These combined actions will support the discovery of a project goal that the Pahrump populous will support.
 
Once common community values and a common goal are discovered, Operation Unite® will aid sponsors of public forums and meetings, media and stakeholders in guiding interactions that are consistent with the community common goals and facts of the issue.
 
Operation Unite® will bring current actions in Pahrump into alignment thereby solving the issue of water availability and access to the year 2060.

A Year Well Remembered

Water challenges mount as changes in weather visit more extreme conditions, more frequently. We see this and recognize the importance in working with the public’s response to our resource issues and intermittent severe weather patterns. Operation Unite® has built technical and social tools that support bringing people together to solve our water problems. Here are some Operation Unite® activities that were achieved this year (2017).

• The Operation Unite® Know Your Water® program now provides more interpretive analyses for domestic well owners to understand and adapt their water use habits.
• Operation Unite® Founder Stephen Baker received the News Department Award at KVMR 89.5 FM for his weekly water commentaries.
• “Water is a Many Splendor-ed Thing” is now up to 254 individual radio shows.
• Operation Unite® is moving into supporting responsible groundwater management in the cannabis industry.
• Operation Unite’s “Meet Your Mentor” internet radio program series is now available on the internet (www.operationunite.co/blogs).
• Operation Unite® continues to increase its media contacts.
• Operation Unite® mentoring activities contributed the successful establishment of the first international American Institute of Professional Geologist student section chapter at Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University in Nanded, India.

Operation Unite® is poised and ready to build your water project successes through our customized public and stakeholder relationship building programs. Some call it “Soft Power”. We call it success with all the trimmings; bargaining in good faith, earned trust and responsible actions.

Operation Unite® wishes each of you and your organizations the greatest successes for 2018. Happy New Year! We will be visiting you next year with our new weekly emails.

Hurricane Recovery is a Long-term Committment

Our most recent weeks have been inundated with life changes on communities in Texas, Louisiana, Florida, the islands of the Florida coast and Mexico. Hurricanes are beginning to break records in both size and might.

Triaging damage resulting from Hurricane Harvey in Houston and Hurricane Irma in Haiti, the Bahamas and Florida is a reality check that long-term disruption in our communities can occur, multiple times, on any given year; flooding recovery, disruption of urban waste water, loss of drinking water supplies, no operating energy grid and lack of the basic operation in our communities. A planner,  Dr. Laurie Johnson,  once said that until the “Golden Triangle” is reestablished (house, job and schools), people can’t go home.   Rebuilding takes time. Society needs a commitment to the long-term recovery of a damaged community. The time to solve this type of problem takes months and years.

Think about what commitment to each other looks like in your area when help is needed at more distant communities. Commitment to each other through long-term hardships is a picture that speaks a thousand words.

Meet Your Mentor Visits AIPG and NGWA

Preparing new professionals to solve our planet's future water issues requires the passing of the proverbial baton. Experiences of retiring senior water professionals are fundamental to building professional responsibility and public service. Competence through education and experiences, consistent demonstration of our historic integrity and a philosophy of ethics, of our collective professional communities,  fuels our future. The Operation Unite Meet Your Mentor internet radio program series supports all these virtues. Water is fundamental to our lives and environment. Join our effort to give future water professionals the benefits and support of experience and knowledge. The Meet Your Mentor internet radio show series is heard by K-12 students and their parents, college students, young professionals and professionals cross-pollinating from other industries. Tune in and listen by Clicking Here: Meet Your Mentor.

From "Tragedy of the Commons" to "In Support of the Commons"

Groundwater management in the western U.S. has always presented difficulty in states that have developed a “tragedy of the commons” circumstance. Correcting these developing situations continues to bump up against the definition of reasonableness, beneficial uses, equity and economic value of use. We have always addressed change in groundwater management through the lens of appropriate compensation and this has, more often than not, kicked the can down the road. Nobody wants to lose their historic right to water regardless of the damage done to an aquifer. Unfortunately, the outcome of this type of focus and response has created emptying aquifers, water quality problems, subsidence, loss of aquifer storage and the depletion of surface flows.

Farmers, some cities and many domestic well users have now experienced not having water and this has altered the motivation of a very small group of people. It is a situation that Benjamin Franklin summarized well, “When the well is dry, we know the worth of water.”

We have always addressed change in groundwater management through the lens of appropriate compensation. Nobody wants to lose their historic right to water. So, how can a positive change be developed?

Maybe appropriate compensation should consider the balance of the specific water benefit with the shortfalls created by its' use. By doing this, appropriate compensation can be translated to the water value of the water use to society. The cumulative effect of this approach will be resource security, optimum quality improvements, longevity for our future generations and positive economic decisions that build our communities.

We are at a point today where a “zero sum gain” or the “status quo” will perpetuate the eventual loss of a critical resource. Call Operation Unite® and discuss this further. Operation Unite® builds public responsibility. Let’s get it done.

Regulators Approve it, the Cultivators Prefer it

Medicinal cannabis cultivation is like any other California agricultural crop; it’s about managing sustainably and being a good steward. Water supply must be matched with the availability of the resource on any given year. This is why, cannabis planning that has a groundwater/surface water optimization program and monitoring component creates the most certainty for the farm.  

Collect data that is used on the farm. The regulating agencies approve it and the cultivators prefer it; Building certainty by letting the data drive and building flexibility in the farm. That’s the ticket. Call Operation Unite®.

Misconceptions and Lack of Trust are Main Causes of Water Projects

Word Counts are a great way to reveal the focus of projects, priorities and fundamental concepts. Examine the Operation Unite® Word Count in this week’s email and know that you are beginning to understand that Operation Unite® focuses on Stakeholder goals and the Public’s water project interests. If your water projects encounter any of these situations, then you want to connect with Operation Unite®:

• A public that hasn’t yet recognized that it is vulnerable to losing a water resource without an effective community response (water project);
• Misconceptions occurring in your project area that send your community of Stakeholders and Public in another direction;
• Clashing with values, principles and behaviors that push against the success of your project;
• Difficulty bringing populations in the “White Areas” of a Groundwater Sustainability Agency together in support of GSA development and your groundwater sustainability plan; or
• Resistance because a Stakeholder or the Public see no value in the water project due to misunderstandings and lack of trust.

Operation Unite® is a hands – on, results - oriented, capacity building initiative that engages Stakeholders and the impacted Public in solving water problems thereby building Public responsibility for generated projects.
 
Our goal is to bring specific communities and the relevant agencies into alignment through the development of common values, collaborative relationships and a shared community plan to achieve articulated goals designed to address the challenges and problems they face. Call us: 530-478-1260.

All Men Are Created Equal

On this most important American holiday we recognize that our past decisions that moved us to become a united nation were the recognition that all men are created equal and this nation and its people are endowed by its Creator to pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness.

Many have fallen to protect our nation’s commitment to unite as a people. This history makes our commitment even stronger to stand strong on the virtues that we believe.  The abuses and dysfunctions felt by our thirteen states during British control describe a benchmark for what not to do in today’s world, inside our United States of America as well as our actions internationally. We are a proud nation with a will to practice virtues that unite people.  It started with the thirteen United States of America prior to 1776 and has developed into the 50 states of America in 2017.

Operation Unite® thanks all our veterans, living and dead, our civic leaders, present and past and citizens in this United States of America for their commitment to these ideals. America is built on solid ground with a vision that all people are created equal and will always be given opportunity to pursue Life, Liberty and Happiness. Have a wonderful July 4th!

Managing the 15,000,000 U.S. Wells that People have Forgotten

Decentralized groundwater supplies are some of the most difficult areas to keep safe from contamination and over pumping. Over 15 million of these wells across the United States are supporting domestic water supplies and this is becoming a problem. The greatest obstacle in addressing this developing problem comes from the people that own and use that water. They don't feel vulnerable and they view regulatory oversight as an infringement on their rights (human or property). This equates to no pro-active actions, no contingencies and an unawareness that their water may be developing unhealthy chronic conditions in their family's health.

Stephen Baker of Operation Unite® had a great interview on “The Water Values” podcast with David McGimpsey. They discussed some of these issues and what to do about it.

David is an attorney working in the arena of water. He has created “The Water Values” podcasts primarily as a platform to launch a podcast about, you guessed it, water. Past interviews have included Pat Mulroy, former General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and the Las Vegas Valley Water District, Charles Fishman, author of the book “The Big Thirst” and Ken Mercer, American Water Works Association and Senior Manager of Technical and Research programs.

Click here and learn more about managing decentralized groundwater supplies in this great interview with David McGimpsey.

The Worst Time to Seek Regulatory Approval for Groundwater Use

The Worst Time to Seek Local and State Approval for Expanding Groundwater Demand is During a 5-Year Drought. But Ananda Village did it and Operation Unite® Helped.

OPERATION UNITE® DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
BUILDING PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY
ANANDA VILLAGE, NEVADA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA

GOAL OF PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITY DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
The intent of this public relations project is four-fold:

1. To develop in the Ananda Village community an awareness of their real water conditions and vulnerability to water scarcity;
2. To educate Ananda Village residents and neighboring property owners of their management responsibilities and the management process being placed into the Ananda Village groundwater management plan; and
3. To educate and build confidence in the Nevada County and State agencies involved in reviewing and approving the expansion plan with respect to the groundwater supply of the community and neighboring citizens,
4. Creation of a monitoring program built on developing certainty in aquifer behavior understanding and a management plan that focuses on Ananda Village goals and protection of surrounding property owners.

COMMON COMMUNITY GOAL
The common community goal was to create and maintain a groundwater supply that does not create adverse impacts to neighboring properties while providing adequate water for the anticipated population at Ananda Village.
 
CORE COMMON COMMUNITY VALUES
The common community values at Ananda Village were characterized as:

• Honesty;
• Integrity;
• Good faith; and
• For the good of the whole.

STRATEGY
The Ananda Village strategy was built on transparency, demonstration of responsibility, respect and trust and best science.
The strategy was three-fold:

1. Provide Ananda Village overwhelming information on groundwater conditions, temporally and spatially, on the Ananda Village property that educates the regulatory community with supportive data and a groundwater management plan that creates a safety net for Ananda Village and surrounding land owners.
2. Create a continuous presence in the general public of Operation Unite® and its mission, the importance of water and the technical aspects that control water supply and environmental health for Nevada County and Ananda Village citizens.
3. Build an adaptive capacity within the Ananda Village community to respond to drought and lower personal and facility long-term daily groundwater use.

Implementation of the strategy was also facilitated by conducting near-continuous messaging at the Operation Unite®  Facebook page, Operation Unite®  website, Operation Unite®  weekly emails, weekly radio news, monthly radio news and community television (limited duration). These vehicles for messaging provided more general and broad view points related to groundwater use and management and community values.
 

TABLE 1. PUBLIC RELATIONSHIP BUILDING TOOLS USED IN THIS PROJECT

DATE                            NAME

May-1410-yr Fractured Rock Aquifer Study Presentation         

2015-2017Weekly News (liberal radio station)

2015-2017Monthly News (conservative radio station)

2015-2017Continuous Announcements Regarding Meetings with "Water Buffaloes" in Western States

2015-2017Meetings with Nevada County and State Regulatory Agencies on Project

2016-2017Operation Unite Website

2015-2017Facebook Page

2015-2017Newspaper Articles

May-15Climate Change Presentation

May-15Weekly Mailing

May-15Developed First Neighborhood Water Alliance Group

June-15Climate Change Video

June- August 2015Drought Tips

June- August 2015Know Your Water - Ananda Village Video

June-15Round Table (permit exempt wells, the individual)

June- September 2015Nevada County Community Television

June-15Special Guest at Farmers Market

July- August 2015Water Conservation Video

July- August 2015Ranching and Drought Video

July-15World Music Festival Presentation

July-15Round Table (permit exempt wells, the regulatory responsibility)

December-15Water Forum

March-16Round Table with Representatives from the Republican, Democratic parties and the Tea Party

June-16Presentation with the Democratic Party on Public Responsibility on Water Issues

October-16Meet the Experts Workshop

February-17ABC Channel 10 News Coverage of Ananda Village Groundwater Management

May-17Public Planning Commission Meeting

June-17Board of Supervisor Meeting

 
Extensive groundwater monitoring and frequent analysis in the study facilitated a best science demonstration of the active components of the Ananda Village technical program. The Ananda Village community and general public efforts are focused on education at the individual, neighborhood and community levels. An effort was made to expand contact with both oppositional and agreeable citizens and groups to the Ananda Village project.

PROGRAM OUTCOME
Outcomes that reflect Ananda Village program successes were recognized; 1) within the Ananda Village community, 2) the acceptance by the regulators in approving the expansion plan and groundwater management program for Ananda Village and lastly, 3) the minimal level of public push back experienced during the public planning commission meeting for the Ananda Village project.
 
Collaborative relationships were generated at three levels; regulatory, within the Ananda Village community and property owners surrounding Ananda Village.

The Operation Unite® relationship building program built transparency and a collaborative spirit with the regulating community overseeing the Ananda Village project. Local county staff turnover made it necessary to revisit the county multiple times.  This increased “face time” helped develop a positive, responsible working relationship between the groups. Concerns and needs by the regulatory community were addressed in detail and with vocal and written explanations. Modifications and adjustments were made as important points were raised by Ananda Village and the regulators. Operation Unite® and Ananda Village illustrated new ideas while simultaneously being attentive to the rigorous requirements that the regulatory oversight team had to navigate through and ultimately satisfy. County and State processes were respected and addressed directly and with competence by Ananda Village.
 
The Ananda Village community was charged with learning and exercising practices that reduced overall daily consumptive use of water per person. This was measured and compared to the mandatory reductions required by Governor Brown of California. Ananda Village reduced their water use by 36 percent compared to year 2013 water demand.
 
Surrounding property owners to Ananda Village were engaged directly and indirectly through the program. Broadcasts, emails, direct contact and community eventscreated good communication with the community, at large. Ultimately, oppositional positions regarding water supply were few during the public planning commission meeting. This was achieved by continued communication between Ananda Village and the surrounding property owners, trust building that had developed through interactions with Operation Unite® and Ananda Village, education in effective groundwater management and  earned public trust in Ananda Village’s intent to be “For the Good of the Whole” and consistent in “Acting in Good Faith.” Outward demonstration of the Ananda Village values resonated with the surrounding community.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This study was funded by Operation Unite® Founder Stephen Baker with donations from KVMR. Several data loggers were donated by Global Water Instrumentation, Incorporated or purchased by individual well owners. A special thanks to the U.S. Geological Survey for providing technical and experiential knowledge in the use and application of data loggers. Thank you also to all well owners that volunteered their wells for this study. In addition, expertise for well head modification design on volunteered wells was completed with skill and confidence by Ron Best. Thank you for all of your work.
 
Peter Goering, Ramu Atwell and Leah Kirk of the Ananda Village water department and their community demonstrated an exceptional commitment to looking at the facts, staying true to their community values and demonstrating the discipline and skill to reduce their water use. This was particularly apparent during the 5-year duration drought experienced in California.
 
The Nevada County Planning and Environmental Health departments provided an exemplary example of collaborative interactions necessary for satisfying state and local water supply requirements while optimizing the future vision pursued by Ananda Village.

The honest and enthusiastic San Juan Tax Payer’s Association is recognized for its commitment to the community, openness to new ideas and passion in building resiliency and a sustainable groundwater supply for all.
 
The public forum gained great credibility due to the contributions made by Chip Close of Nevada Irrigation District, Chris Paulus of Cal Fire, Vic Ferrera of Nevada County Operation of Emergency Services and local media. Sharing of drought tips and other water efficiency ideas was generously provided by Jim Gates of Nevada County Free Range Beef, Kyle at Fodder Farms, Ina Elrod of Penn Valley, Deb Fox for organizing and including Operation Unite® in the World Music Festival lecture series and the many contributors for the Drought Tips short segments. Gratitude is extended to over 200 people interviewed for Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing short radio segments from around the United States, India, Afghanistan, Yemen and South Korea. These individuals shared their intimate stories that touched the hearts and intellect of many listeners in Nevada and surrounding Counties.
 
Round table successes were directly accomplished because of efforts of Paul Emery and the KVMR staff and our knowledgeable and passionate guests; Garret McInnis, H2O to Go, John Becht, Craig Ruben, Jack Kuehn, Vic Ferrera, Nevada County Operations of Emergency Services, the San Luis Obispo Board of Supervisor Frank Mecham, Tom Tebb, Washington Department of Ecology, Jim Schwab, American Planning Association and Atman Goering of Ananda Village.

Valuable discussions were provided by the Nevada County Republican, Democratic and Tea parties concerning awareness of water issues and suitable mitigation choices during a pre-election radio round table talk broadcast.  In addition, the Democratic Party provided a stage for Operation Unite® to educate its party on groundwater in the foothills and water for Californians.
 
Appreciation is also extended to the nearly 25 individuals that met numerous times to work out the details of the first Neighborhood Water Alliance program in Nevada County.
 
An additional thanks to the professional support provided by Darby Davenport and Cal McKitrick for documenting special events through the magic of their photographic eye. A very special person, Catherine Busch, who not only provided her gifted videography skills and art form but also critiqued Operation Unite® messaging through the eyes of a seasoned and very successful, award winning documentary producer. Thank you. Richard Miller provided his organization and people skills  as an administrator during radio round tables and Operation Unite® recording sessions on location and in the studio. Your participation made its positive impression.
 
Thank you also to Steve Baker and Paul Emery at KVMR radio station, Tom Fitzimmons at KNCO radio station, Nevada County Television members and staff, Brian Hamilton of The Union newspaper, Gil Dominguez of Touchdown Productions, Pasquale of Yubanet and the Nevada County Association of Realtors for their strong and consistent commitment to the community and water  issues impacting Nevada County.

Good things happen because good people ran with their passion and a common goal. Thank you to all.

Commit, Perservere and Accomplish

When building collaboration, choose leaders that inspire political and personal commitment and action. This many times is accomplished by building a broad-based involvement as you go and sustaining hope and encouragement through participation during the consensus building process. Foundations are made through hard work and time. There is no way around this.  Our issues of today may be different but the attributes for success are the same as they always have been; commit, persevere and accomplish.

Go on, Commit Yourself to Managing Your Groundwater

Achieving sustainable groundwater is more than a requirement. It makes your life’s water needs manageable. The decisions are all yours, it is applicable to your daily life, adjusting to low water years is easier and there are fewer conflicts. So why not commit yourself to managing your groundwater resource!